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Weber IBevond "XTE-DIE October 23-29, 1998 Volume 2 Number 8 Itr s here.. There r s no txirning back.. Itf s the way things will ba By Tyler A. Holt managing editor-Tfte Signpost SEME STERS This year's semester conversion has brought Weber State Univer sity a fair amount of change, a drop in enrollment numbers and a multitude of student and faculty attitudes. According to WSU Provost David Eisler, fall semester enrollment dropped 5 percent from last year's fall quarter. Overall headcount is down 713 students from 14,613 in 1997 to 1 3,900 students this semester. Eisler contributed the decline in numbers partly to the fact that so many students pushed to graduate early in order to avoid the semester conversion. Senior headcount is down 1 5 percent, while sophomore headcount only dropped by 3 percent. "Both these numbers can be tied to semester conversion. Wc graduated out some of the largest classes ever at both the associate and undergraduate degree level," Eisler said. "This is a major part of the declines here." A more specific breakdown of the numbers shows that female headcount is down by 536 students, or 7 percent: and the number of male students dropped by 177 students, or 3 percent. Full-time student enrollment dipped by 4 percent, and part-time numbers clipped by 7 percent. Eisler remains positive. "1 see some really positive things in our enrollment. Our freshmen enrollment is at least level and actually up some. Considering the large increase we had for fall '97, 1 believe this is quite positive," he said. "I've heard suggestions that Utah State University may be down significantly in freshmen. I believe fewer freshmen graduated last year than the year before." According to enrollment numbers given by Kyle Hyde from the USU statistics office, Eisler is probably right. Overall enrollment numbers dropped 9 percent this semester. The 1997 fall quarter at USU had 21,234 students registered, while this semester showed a decrease with only 19.322 students registered. Hyde said the university was still tying up loose ends with its numbers and couldn't yet give any specific information. What the future will bring isn't something Eisler is willing to speculate about until the university has had more time with the transition. "It's impossible to know what the final effect will be until spring enrollment is counted," Eisler said. "But wc will know better in January just where wc stand." Many professors also believe it will simply take time to ease through the transition. "This entire year is just going to be an adjustment. It's going to take some lime to get used to the semester system. It's like when Weber College changed to Weber State University: we were frequently calling ourselves a college. And it was because that's w hat we were so familiar with." said Joe llorval. psychology professor. "Alter about a war. it just became the norm. I think that certainly In the tune freshmen get into upX?r-division courses.. .e er one. includ- IX a , 'Ml..w.".' -. , S ' - Students must adjust to classes and activities beginning on the hour instead of the haf hour, including the Open Hour, during which many classes are being taught under the semester system. ing the faculty, will be adapted, and it will become second nature." At the same time that students and faculty can't seem to get used to uttering the change in words from quarter to semester, students' attitudes seem to have remained the same. "I am noticing what everyone predicted," said Gene Sessions, history professor. "And that is that people get tired of the same class after eight weeks." Both Sessions and Horvat said they've seen a significant drop in attendance, usually common at the end in the quarter system, but no real difference in lest scores. Sessions jokingly explained the step he will take to keep students enthusiastic and attending his classes for the remainder of this semester. "More jokes! I've got my usual flippant personality that I'll just crank up to a higher level," he said. Diane Pugmirc, mathematics instructor, hasn't seen the .same lack of attendance from her students. "It's kind of funny. I even expected that I, myself, would' be a lot more tired, but I don't notice it," Pugmirc said. "If you talk to me in another five weeks. I might be tired. But right now. it's sad to say. I'm kind of enjoying it." Pugmirc did say she enjoys the extra weeks that come along with semesters. She feels the students have more time in between classes to absorb the material. Along with many others, howewr. Pugmirc can't fully predict how students will Lire until the end of the semester. "I don't lia e an statistics or proof, so I can't tell whether thev'ie doing an heller. We're only midway. I think the finals w ill tell." Puemirc said. "But as far as I can see with l -y so ;::... .-W As the eighth week of class ends, students are facing the reality of being at midterms under the semester systerrf when they would have been preparing for finals in the quarter system. the pressure and stress levels, it seems to be a little bit better."John Thaclcr, associate professor of mathematics, said he feels semesters will end up benefitting his students, especially in a subject that is known to cause students more anxiety than others. "I lopefully I can build enthusiasm for learning math and then have more time under semesters to channel this enthusiasm into a positive educational experience." Thaclcr said. Students' opinions vary about the extra time semesters Sec StMtsiERS pd.jC 2

Public Domain. Courtesy of University Archives, Stewart Library, Weber State University.

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Weber IBevond "XTE-DIE October 23-29, 1998 Volume 2 Number 8 Itr s here.. There r s no txirning back.. Itf s the way things will ba By Tyler A. Holt managing editor-Tfte Signpost SEME STERS This year's semester conversion has brought Weber State Univer sity a fair amount of change, a drop in enrollment numbers and a multitude of student and faculty attitudes. According to WSU Provost David Eisler, fall semester enrollment dropped 5 percent from last year's fall quarter. Overall headcount is down 713 students from 14,613 in 1997 to 1 3,900 students this semester. Eisler contributed the decline in numbers partly to the fact that so many students pushed to graduate early in order to avoid the semester conversion. Senior headcount is down 1 5 percent, while sophomore headcount only dropped by 3 percent. "Both these numbers can be tied to semester conversion. Wc graduated out some of the largest classes ever at both the associate and undergraduate degree level," Eisler said. "This is a major part of the declines here." A more specific breakdown of the numbers shows that female headcount is down by 536 students, or 7 percent: and the number of male students dropped by 177 students, or 3 percent. Full-time student enrollment dipped by 4 percent, and part-time numbers clipped by 7 percent. Eisler remains positive. "1 see some really positive things in our enrollment. Our freshmen enrollment is at least level and actually up some. Considering the large increase we had for fall '97, 1 believe this is quite positive," he said. "I've heard suggestions that Utah State University may be down significantly in freshmen. I believe fewer freshmen graduated last year than the year before." According to enrollment numbers given by Kyle Hyde from the USU statistics office, Eisler is probably right. Overall enrollment numbers dropped 9 percent this semester. The 1997 fall quarter at USU had 21,234 students registered, while this semester showed a decrease with only 19.322 students registered. Hyde said the university was still tying up loose ends with its numbers and couldn't yet give any specific information. What the future will bring isn't something Eisler is willing to speculate about until the university has had more time with the transition. "It's impossible to know what the final effect will be until spring enrollment is counted," Eisler said. "But wc will know better in January just where wc stand." Many professors also believe it will simply take time to ease through the transition. "This entire year is just going to be an adjustment. It's going to take some lime to get used to the semester system. It's like when Weber College changed to Weber State University: we were frequently calling ourselves a college. And it was because that's w hat we were so familiar with." said Joe llorval. psychology professor. "Alter about a war. it just became the norm. I think that certainly In the tune freshmen get into upX?r-division courses.. .e er one. includ- IX a , 'Ml..w.".' -. , S ' - Students must adjust to classes and activities beginning on the hour instead of the haf hour, including the Open Hour, during which many classes are being taught under the semester system. ing the faculty, will be adapted, and it will become second nature." At the same time that students and faculty can't seem to get used to uttering the change in words from quarter to semester, students' attitudes seem to have remained the same. "I am noticing what everyone predicted," said Gene Sessions, history professor. "And that is that people get tired of the same class after eight weeks." Both Sessions and Horvat said they've seen a significant drop in attendance, usually common at the end in the quarter system, but no real difference in lest scores. Sessions jokingly explained the step he will take to keep students enthusiastic and attending his classes for the remainder of this semester. "More jokes! I've got my usual flippant personality that I'll just crank up to a higher level," he said. Diane Pugmirc, mathematics instructor, hasn't seen the .same lack of attendance from her students. "It's kind of funny. I even expected that I, myself, would' be a lot more tired, but I don't notice it," Pugmirc said. "If you talk to me in another five weeks. I might be tired. But right now. it's sad to say. I'm kind of enjoying it." Pugmirc did say she enjoys the extra weeks that come along with semesters. She feels the students have more time in between classes to absorb the material. Along with many others, howewr. Pugmirc can't fully predict how students will Lire until the end of the semester. "I don't lia e an statistics or proof, so I can't tell whether thev'ie doing an heller. We're only midway. I think the finals w ill tell." Puemirc said. "But as far as I can see with l -y so ;::... .-W As the eighth week of class ends, students are facing the reality of being at midterms under the semester systerrf when they would have been preparing for finals in the quarter system. the pressure and stress levels, it seems to be a little bit better."John Thaclcr, associate professor of mathematics, said he feels semesters will end up benefitting his students, especially in a subject that is known to cause students more anxiety than others. "I lopefully I can build enthusiasm for learning math and then have more time under semesters to channel this enthusiasm into a positive educational experience." Thaclcr said. Students' opinions vary about the extra time semesters Sec StMtsiERS pd.jC 2